Major quake strikes off Alaska; local tsunami warning

LOS ANGELES — An 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, generating a local tsunami warning.

But the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that "based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected," adding that Hawaii was also not at risk.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 2053 GMT, was located 24 kilometres southeast of Alaska's Little Sitkin Island.

The US Geological Survey early on Tuesday also said a major 7.2-magnitude quake struck off New Zealand's Kermadec Islands but the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there was no widespread tsunami threat.

The earthquake struck at 7:19am (1919 GMT Monday) and occurred 73km southeast of Raoul Island, USGS said. The epicentre was at a depth of 30 kilometres. — AFP